Question 1

Which of the following is an operational definition of "grief"?​

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions specify how a concept is measured or manipulated in a specific study. Choice D, "The number of tears shed per day," provides a measurable way to assess grief, fitting the criteria for an operational definition.

Question 2

Why is an anecdote NOT considered strong evidence?​

Accepted Answer

Anecdotes could have occurred by accident, making them unreliable and less trustworthy as evidence. Additionally, anecdotes do not necessarily represent a larger population or provide statistical data, making them less convincing to support an argument.

Question 3

Which of the following is an operational definition of "religiousness"?​

Accepted Answer

An operational definition is one that is measurable and observable. Out of the options given, only choice C can be measured and observed in terms of how frequently someone attends worship services.

Question 4

Which of the following is an operational definition of "hunger"?​

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions specify how a concept is measured or manipulated in a specific study. Option A, "How much someone would be willing to pay for a meal," provides a measurable and observable way to assess hunger, fitting the criteria for an operational definition.

Question 5

Clever Hans appeared to do math.But he was really responding to what?​

Accepted Answer

Clever Hans, the horse, was actually responding to involuntary facial expressions of the human questioner, not doing math.

Question 6

You think about a friend you haven't thought about in months,and then that friend calls you.This is an example of what?​

Accepted Answer

This is an example of an anecdote, which is a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person, often used to illustrate a point. In this case, the story about thinking of a friend and then receiving a call from them is a personal experience, not a scientific study or finding.

Question 7

Someone claims that ESP shows up only when the vibrations are right and that there is no way to know whether the vibrations are right except to see whether ESP shows up.Why is this proposal not scientifically acceptable?​

Accepted Answer

The proposal is not scientifically acceptable because it is not falsifiable. Falsifiability is a key criterion for scientific claims, meaning that they must be able to be proven false through empirical evidence or logical reasoning. Since the proposal cannot be tested or proven false, it cannot be considered a scientific claim.

Question 8

When Clever Hans appeared to do complex math,why did scientists seek a different explanation?​

Accepted Answer

Scientists seek the most parsimonious explanation, meaning they seek the simplest and most straightforward explanation that accounts for the observed phenomenon. In the case of Clever Hans, scientists suspected that he was not actually doing complex math, but was instead picking up on subtle cues from his trainer that indicated when to stop tapping his hoof. This explanation was more parsimonious than the alternative that Clever Hans was actually capable of advanced mathematical abilities.

Question 9

What are the reasons to be skeptical of extrasensory perception?​

Accepted Answer

Extrasensory perception (ESP) has not been consistently replicated in scientific experiments, and there is no parsimonious explanation for how it could work. This lack of empirical evidence and lack of a simple explanation make it a questionable concept in scientific circles.

Question 10

In one word,why did most scientists doubt that Clever Hans could do complex mathematics,even before they understood he was actually doing?​

Accepted Answer

Parsimony refers to the idea that the simplest explanation is often the correct one. In the case of Clever Hans, the simplest explanation was that he was reading cues from his trainer or audience rather than actually performing complex mathematical calculations. Therefore, scientists doubted his abilities based on this principle.

Question 11

How did Clever Hans solve arithmetic problems?​

Accepted Answer

Clever Hans was able to solve arithmetic problems by observing and interpreting unintentional cues from his owner or the audience members, such as changes in facial expressions or body language, to determine when he should stop tapping his hoof. This phenomenon is now referred to as the Clever Hans effect.

Question 12

Why do researchers use operational definitions of their terms?​

Accepted Answer

Operational definitions enable researchers to measure concepts or variables in a standardized and objective way, which is essential for conducting reliable and valid research.

Question 13

What do supporters of extrasensory perception assert?​

Accepted Answer

Supporters of extrasensory perception assert that some people are able to gain information without receiving anything through any of their sense organs.

Question 14

What is an anecdote?​

Accepted Answer

An anecdote is a brief, amusing or interesting story about a real-life event, often used in conversation or as a way of illustrating a point. It is not related to statistical significance testing, research participants, or medicine.

Question 15

What is an operational definition?​

Accepted Answer

An operational definition is a definition that states how to produce or measure something. It is used in scientific research to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of how a particular variable or concept is being measured or operationalized. Synonyms, antonyms, scientific causes, and word origins do not necessarily provide this level of specificity for operationalizing a concept.

Question 16

What is one of the main objections raised against ESP?​

Accepted Answer

One of the main objections raised against ESP is that the results claiming to support it are not replicable. This means that when other researchers attempt to repeat the same experiments, they fail to get the same outcomes. This lack of replicability undermines the validity and reliability of the findings supporting ESP.

Question 17

Why is an anecdote not considered strong evidence?​

Accepted Answer

Anecdotes are not considered strong evidence because they are based on personal experiences and are not replicable. This means that they cannot be tested or verified in a scientific manner. Therefore, they do not provide reliable evidence to support a claim or argument.

Question 18

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?​

Accepted Answer

Oskar Pfungst conducted experiments and found that Hans only answered correctly when the questioner stood in plain sight. Pfungst concluded that Hans was unconsciously picking up on subtle cues from the questioner, such as body language or facial expressions, rather than actually doing math.

Question 19

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?​

Accepted Answer

Pfungst discovered that Hans could only answer correctly if the questioner knew the correct answer, suggesting that Hans was not actually performing math but rather picking up on subtle cues from his trainer and questioners.

Question 20

"The Amazing Kreskin" demonstrates his powers by finding his paycheck hidden somewhere in the audience.What is the most parsimonious explanation?​

Accepted Answer

The most parsimonious explanation is that Kreskin is reading facial cues from the audience, much like the horse Clever Hans, who was thought to be able to perform arithmetic but was actually responding to unconscious cues from his owner. Without evidence of supernatural psychic powers or brain wave perception, the simplest explanation is that Kreskin is relying on his observational skills and knowledge of human behavior to locate the paycheck.

Quiz 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology

Which of the following is an operational definition of "grief"?​

Why is an anecdote NOT considered strong evidence?​

Which of the following is an operational definition of "religiousness"?​

Which of the following is an operational definition of "hunger"?​

Clever Hans appeared to do math.But he was really responding to what?​

You think about a friend you haven't thought about in months,and then that friend calls you.This is an example of what?​

Someone claims that ESP shows up only when the vibrations are right and that there is no way to know whether the vibrations are right except to see whether ESP shows up.Why is this proposal not scientifically acceptable?​

When Clever Hans appeared to do complex math,why did scientists seek a different explanation?​

What are the reasons to be skeptical of extrasensory perception?​

In one word,why did most scientists doubt that Clever Hans could do complex mathematics,even before they understood he was actually doing?​

How did Clever Hans solve arithmetic problems?​

Why do researchers use operational definitions of their terms?​

What do supporters of extrasensory perception assert?​

What is an anecdote?​

What is an operational definition?​

What is one of the main objections raised against ESP?​

Why is an anecdote not considered strong evidence?​

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?​

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?​

"The Amazing Kreskin" demonstrates his powers by finding his paycheck hidden somewhere in the audience.What is the most parsimonious explanation?​

Which of the following is an operational definition of "grief"?

Why is an anecdote NOT considered strong evidence?

Which of the following is an operational definition of "religiousness"?

Which of the following is an operational definition of "hunger"?

Clever Hans appeared to do math.But he was really responding to what?

You think about a friend you haven't thought about in months,and then that friend calls you.This is an example of what?

Someone claims that ESP shows up only when the vibrations are right and that there is no way to know whether the vibrations are right except to see whether ESP shows up.Why is this proposal not scientifically acceptable?

When Clever Hans appeared to do complex math,why did scientists seek a different explanation?

What are the reasons to be skeptical of extrasensory perception?

In one word,why did most scientists doubt that Clever Hans could do complex mathematics,even before they understood he was actually doing?

How did Clever Hans solve arithmetic problems?

Why do researchers use operational definitions of their terms?

What do supporters of extrasensory perception assert?

What is an anecdote?

What is an operational definition?

What is one of the main objections raised against ESP?

Why is an anecdote not considered strong evidence?

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?

What was Oskar Pfungst's evidence that Clever Hans was not doing math?

"The Amazing Kreskin" demonstrates his powers by finding his paycheck hidden somewhere in the audience.What is the most parsimonious explanation?